The Irish standard., 1887-03-19
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
CONTINUED from first page.)

people it is not my intention to enter
upon; her bright and glorious record
from literary point of view has no
equal in the history Of nations and we
will devote ourselves to the sunshine in
her history and for a moment forget
if we can the gloomy phase and the
mere gloomy cause thereof. Neither
do I intend to enter upon the life or
history of her Patron Saint. Let US
trust we may profit by the example Of
his life, and the prayer OF the people
whose Patron Saint he is may find an
eloquent and fervent advocate fox the
relief they have SO long asked for, III
his petition to the great God above, and
that he may grant freedom to that
beautiful but unhappy isle, far across
the seattle earnest prayer, l believe,
of fifty millions of people to-day Oh this
earth. The Irish have always been a
literary people, to song and legend they
have chung through sunshine AID
shadow With the same tenacity as to
faith and fatherland, and the true Celt
is above all other men gifted with fine
sentiments, generous impulses, and a
capacity to admire the good, the beau
tiful and sublime. Thus by nature he
is a lover Of literature, but there is a
still higher view to be taken. The
Catholic religion harnonjzes with his
nature at the same time that it elevates
his mind. Nature aud religion have
thu combined to mould his genius.
John Boyle O'Reilly, Of Boston, one OF
Gods noblemen. says:
"a nations greatness lies in men, not acres;
One master mindi is worth million hands"
This is especially true Of the rulers of
thought, men who have given TO the
world truths that will wake to perish
never" and whose influence will al
ways be felt by the human race. The
speaker here described the condition of
English society about the year 1875.
from the time Of William Iii. Of Bovine
celebrity through the reigns Of the first
two Georges, when Richard Steele ap-
peared upon the scene. He was born
in Dublin, aud was the first TO combat
the fOliies of that coarse age IN which
he lived and nanfully labored to raise
the English nation from its brutal jg-
norance and low condition. The
speaker described the opening of q
great era in English literature. the
birth of the first English periodical,
1.-THE Tattler," in conjunction with
ssteele's friend, Swift, of its objects and
the benefit the people derived from it,
and later, Of the publication of ''The
Spectator, and the speaker claimed
it wsas through these periodicals, edited
and published by the great Irishman,
Steele, that the English people actually
learned to read. Steele's writings
were conducive to virtue, and to the
honor Of this gifted Irishman it should
be remembered that he Was the first
dranlatlst after the restoration tc intro
t2uce virtue on the English stage, and
was the first to bring about a reform in
the morals of the age in which he lived
The author of ''Gulliyer's Travels, "
Dean Swift, next claimed the speakers
attention. He was born in Dublin
and attended school st Kilkenny, and
later entered Trinity College, Dublin,
In the year l7l3 he was made Dean Of
st. Patrick's, and the people Of his ma
tive city treated him badly. The
speaker compared his treatment later in
life with his reception at this time. He
afterwards became tho idol Of the Irish
people, and his influence oyer them was
boundless Swift was in person tall,
strong and we'll made, Of dark COM
plexion, with blue eyes. His features
EXPRESSED the stern. naughty turn Of
his mind. His writings will endure as
long as the English language. He pos
sesse1 originality in an eminent de-
gree. tie has been compared by schol-
ars with the great Demosthenes. Swift
was good, great. honest, charitable and
patriotic. He was a firm Christian,
and deeply religious man. His grand
example in after years neryed Burke,
Grattan, Curran and O'Connel1. No
mau ever deserved more Of any coun-
try than Swift. and his name will ever
live all honor to his native land, One
of the dearest and brightest narnes in
English literature is Oliver Goldsmith.
His life was strange melodrama,
varied with laughter and tears, check
cred with fame and misfortune. He
was born in the County Longfoid. AS
an author Goldsmith holds the first
place in both poetry and prose. His
original productions are classics, OF
all his poetic gems tue finest and most
precious is THE Deserted Village, !"
in which the good, simple people, the
sights and scenes of Lissoy in the
county Westmeath are immortalized.
For tender pathos, simple, charming,
life-like descriptions, exquisite lar
mony and 1natchless beauty of express
sion, it is unequalled in the range OF
literature. To Goldsmith belongs the